Science Forum Day 3 - Zainul Abedin - Integrating fish in rice-based farming systems in Bangladesh

Integrating fish in rice-based farming systems in Bangladesh

M. Zainul Abedin and S.M.A. SattarIRRI Bangladesh Office

July 2011

Rice and Fish had been and are integrated

on the plates

and

In the rice fields …. Since ????

INTEGRATED RICE+FISH – PULSES+LIVESTOCK SYSTEM

Plankton growth

Natural rice-fish cultureIs Threatened by:

High population pressure – demand for more - over harvesting -Decreasing stocks of natural (wild) fish

“Green revolution and “development” initiatives saw changing land use patterns indiscriminate use of pesticides interference with natural breeding and feeding grounds

– sluices, roads, etc.

Drying up river systems and water bodies

LACK OF TECHNOLOGIES TO COPE UP WITH THE CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES AND INCREASING DEMANDS

? Where is FISH???

Research and development of rice fish culture in Bangladesh

Organizations involved:• BFRI, BRRI, Universities, Deptt. of Fisheries NGOS, WFC, IRRI

CONCURRENT AND SEQUENTIAL RICE AND FISH BASED FARMING SYSTEMS

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Wet season Dry season

Gher preparation

• Water depth- 60-80 cm• Single stocking:

@ 3-5/m²• Yield: 350-550 kg/ha• NR: 0.75-1.00 lakh/ha (1:1.9)

Golda GIFT

5,000-10,000/ha at 1:1 ratio

Yield:• Rice: 4-5 t/ha.• Fish: 200-250 kg/ha• Prawn: 70-90 kg/ha

Seedling

Bagda Rice

Improved rice (aman)-shrimp system

HYVs: BR 23/40/41

June July August0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

68,337a

48,908b

43,160b

PrawnGIFTRice

Prawn stocking time

Ne

t re

turn

('0

00

Tk

./ha

)

Control15,690

About 369-584% higher return than in mono-cultivation of commonly practiced rice varieties

Stocking of prawn PL into shrimp ponds 60 days in advance of rice plantation resulted in 158% higher net return

Results (economic return

Benefits of integrating fish with deep water rice

Area Technical option

Stocking density

Recov. rate (%)

Yield (kg/ha)

Net return from fish (Tk./ha)

K. Char Alternate 8,200 44 1,165 22,260

B. baria Alternate 12,500 22 1,559 35,940

Narail Concurrent 13,500 22 614 13,200

Mymensingh

Concurrent 9,500 32 617 8,280

Data from BFRI

Benefits of integrating fish with rice

• 67% fields with fish gave 13% higher rice yield

• 82% fields with fish had less weed • Evidence of reduced pests in rice• Evidence of increased soil organic matter

content• Reduced need for fertilizer in rice

Potential in Bangladesh

Fish in rice-based ag system can enhance income at a higher rate than crops alone can

thereby can reduce poverty, malnutrition and vulnerability- Generate employment opportunities

Total rice area about 10.8 m ha

About 7 m ha where water stays for 4-6 months

~ 3 m ha boro fields ~ 1.40 m ha floating rice fields~ 3 m ha t. aman fields (including

coastal area

ConstraintsTechnological Limited technological options for various ecosystems,

resource base and risks Pests & diseases Lack of technical knowledge

Institutional and governance No easy access to seed & other inputs Inadequate service centers Inadequate training facility Indiscriminate structures disregarding impact on fisheries Tenurial rights

ConstraintsSocioeconomic Labor shortages Lack access to capital Risk of fish protection Lack of Access to Market

Environmental• Flooding, Drought, and impact of climate change

Recommendations

• Look at system productivity and economic gains• Strengthen understanding of the current

conditions and long term projections• Strengthen research and development –

community participatory• Develop Community-based entrepreneurships • Build up on successes and local knowledge• Lobby for Policy tools for governance – equity,

access to factor and product markets, tenurial rights particularly for fishing in large water bodies

THANKS